Kit Review

Straight build + Seals

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Various angles (1/6)

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Various angles (2/6)

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Various angles (3/6)

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Detail shots (1/4)

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Shin Matsunaga's Custom-specific seals for various parts of the body. The seals

Shin Matsunaga's Custom-specific seals for various parts of the body.
The seals that go on the spike armor are really hard to get on smoothly because of the curved surface. T_T

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - The right shoulder, the inner shield parts, and the round parts beside the back

The right shoulder, the inner shield parts, and the round parts beside the backpack have been updated with new sculpts.

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - The legs and front skirt wrinkle details unique to the R1 type have also receiv

The legs and front skirt wrinkle details unique to the R1 type have also received new sculpts.

The weapon loadout itself is pretty similar to the previous release.

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - The original Giant Bazooka has been swapped out for a prototype bazooka, with o

The original Giant Bazooka has been swapped out for a prototype bazooka,
with only the rear magazine section replaced with a new sculpt.

A total of 4 hand parts are included.

Cockpit hatch open

Leftover parts

Articulation that's not much different from before

Zaku Machine Gun pose

Prototype Bazooka pose

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Bazooka pose (1/3)

Bazooka pose

Heat Hawk pose

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II released as a standard retail

Alongside the MG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II released as a standard retail kit.

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - Alongside the RG Zaku II Johnny Ridden's Custom released as a standard retail k

Alongside the RG Zaku II Johnny Ridden's Custom released as a standard retail kit.
There are quite a few differences — the shoulder, front skirt, legs, weapons, and more.

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II - The sculpt change on the round parts beside the backpack. Nice to see they paid

The sculpt change on the round parts beside the backpack.
Nice to see they paid attention to even these small detail changes.

This kit is the RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II, released as a Club G (Premium Bandai) online exclusive. It's based on the standard retail release of the RG Zaku II Johnny Ridden's Customwith changed molded colors and a number of new sculpts added. This is also the first RG Zaku kit to feature the R1-type high-mobility configuration.

New sculpts have been applied to the right shoulder, inner shield, front skirt, R1-type legs, and the round section beside the backpack. The original Giant Bazooka has also been updated with a new sculpt on the rear magazine section, turning it into a prototype bazooka. Everything else structurally is identical to the previous R2 high-mobility Zaku Johnny Ridden's Custom — it still delivers solid articulation and sturdy joint strength. The reduced knee range of motion due to the bulkier legs typical of the high-mobility type is still there as well.

The various markings unique to Shin Matsunaga's Custom are recreated with seals, but the ones that go on the spike armor don't sit flush against the curved surface very well — they tend to lift up. Even if you press them down firmly, they often end up peeling and looking messy over time, so it's a bit of a shame they didn't go with waterslide decals instead. (No waterslide decals included — seals only.)

All that said, the real significance here is that the R1-type high-mobility Zaku is getting the RG treatment for the first time, and the attention to detail with all the new sculpts is genuinely commendable. That said, like other RG Zakus, the foot contact with the ground is a bit iffy making it tricky to stand upright, and the wrist parts don't lock in very securely and tend to feel loose — those issues are still present. Either way, if you're a fan of the Zaku series, this looks like a pretty satisfying little RG Zaku R1 kit that's compact yet nicely detailed. :-)

RG Shin Matsunaga's Custom Zaku II | 2018.1 | ¥3,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.